Gamecocks drub Elon women

COLUMBIA, S. C. ó Ashley Bruner scored 15 points and Ieasia Walker added 13 to lead South Carolina as the Gamecocks defeated visiting Elon University 77-44 in the womenís basketball season opener for both teams Friday night at Colonial Life Arena.

The Gamecocks outscored the Phoenix, 22-5, off second-chance points and claimed 24 of its 77 points in the paint. The Phoenix and the Gamecocks were fairly even on the glass in the first 20 minutes as South Carolina brought down 16 to Elonís 15, but South Carolina finished with a 53-33 advantage.

Elon was led by Shon Redmond, who scored a team-high 10 points, while Kelsey Evans and Ali Ford both finished with eight points. Kelsey Harris led Elon on the glass with nine rebounds.

Elon shot 29 percent from the field on 16-for-54 field-goal attempts, while South Carolina knocked down 31 of 70 shots for 44-percent shooting. The Phoenix kept the Gamecocks from making any of its 14 shots from beyond the 3-point arc as Ford and teammate Zora Stephenson banked the only two 3-pointers of the game.

Elem Ibiam and Asia Dozier each pulled down double-figure rebounds, marking the first time a pair of Gamecocks hit the mark since March 4, 2010, against Mississippi.